Washing machine



Sept. 1, 1936. J. J. McCABE 2,053,158

WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Sept. 1, 1936. J. J. McCABE WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R WM MA VC m6 M J M J ATTORNEY Sept. 1, 1936.

J. J. M CABE WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I/ fIErZU H )1 INVENTOR. Jo/r/v eZ/W CABE 6; TTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,053,158 WASHING MACHINE John J. McCabe, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company,- Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 8, 1934, Serial No. 147,390

18 Claims. (Cl. 74-431) This invention relates to W hin machines lower end of each of the finishing strips is held and it has for its object the provision of an imin place by means of a collar 8 carried at the proved control for starting and stopping the bottom of each of the machine legs 2. The finwashing instrumentalities of the machine, such ishing strips are secured at their upper ends with control being arranged so as to afford a greater respect to a top plate In by any suitable means 5 ease and convenience in the manipulation of the such as thescrews ll.

'controls of a machine of the class described. The top plate I0 may be in the form of an With these and other objects in view, the inannular ring having four radial arms extending vention consists in the novel construction, aroutwardly therefrom. The annular ring of the rangement and combination of parts, hereinafter top plate defines a ceneral opening provided for 10 illustrated and described in some of its embodithe reception of a tub cover l2. The radial arms ments in the accompanying drawings-and parof the top plate cover the meeting edges of the ticularly pointed out in the appended claims. top part of the panels 6 as well as covering the In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational upper ends of the finishing strips 1.

view, partly in section, of a washing machine The top part of the tub 4 is formed by an in- 15 illustrating one embodiment of the invention; turned annular shield I3, the bottom of which Figure 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the rests upon the upper edge of the tub. The upper gear mechanism of the machine shown in Figure edge of this shield is .engaged by the top plate 1 with certain of the parts broken away for the i0 and interposed between these parts there is sake of clearness; Figure 3 is a detail plan view provided an annular gasket l4 preferably of a 20 taken on line 3-3, Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enyielding material, as for example, rubber. The larged side elevational view of certain details top plate in is urged against the top of the shield of the washing machine control; Figure 5 is a l3 by a number of threaded rods or elongated detail sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure bolts l5 which engage with the base i of the me 5 2; Figures 6 and 7 are detail plan views showing chine. In this manner the tub is securely yet the agitator shaft pinion and its driving gear yieldingly held in place by the rubber supportin their operative and inoperative driving posiing pads 5 and the gasket l4. tions respectively; Figures 8 and 9 are side ele- An agitator I6 is carried inside the tub on a vational and-plan views respectively, of some of shaft l1 traversing a seal or packing device It the parts of the manually operable clutch; and carried by the tub bottom so as to prevent leak- 30 Figure 10 is a. plan view of the driven gear in age of water from the tub at this point. An which is formed one of the cooperating parts of upper bearing l9, carried by the gear case is prothe manually operable clutch. vided for the shaft I] and a pinion 20 is secured The washing machine selected for purposes of to the lower end of this shaft. This pinion is illustrating this invention, comprises a supportadapted for meshing engagement with a curved 35 ing base I to which is fixedly secured a plurality rack bar 2|. The rack bar is connected for of supporting legs 2 having casters 3 at their movement with one end of a pitman 22, the other lower ends. Upon the base I there is carried a end of which is fixed to a pin 23 mounted ectub 4 which rests upon yielding pads 5 prefercentrically in a worm gear 24 carried on a shaft ably formed of rubber and interposed between 25 fixed to the bottom 26 of a gear case within 40 the tub and the base. which the gearing just described is enclosed.

The machine shown is square in cross-sectional The worm gear 24 is driven by a worm 2'5 fixed outline with supporting legs located one at each with respect to a belt pulley 28 which is driven corner of the machine. The tub legs and supby a motor 30 through a belt 3!.

porting base are concealed behind shields or A gear 32, coaxial with the gear 26, is secured 45 panels 6, one of which is provided for each side for movement therewith. This gear is in conof the machine. These panels are bent over the stant mesh with a second gear 33 which is fixed tub at their upper ends and extend from the top to a vertical shaft 34 by which the wringer of the machine to a point a considerable dismechanism (not shown) of the machine is driven.

tance below the bottom of the tub 4 and base E An elongated sleeve 35 is loosely mounted on the so so that all of the operating parts of the ma wringer driving shaft 3 The sleeve 35 is prochine are concealed from view. vided with an eccentric 36 at its upper end and The shields or panels 6 are held in place by this eccentric is received in one end of an ecmeans of four finishing strips i, one of which centric rod 31. The eccentric and its associated is provided at each corner of the machine. The rod are provided for utilizing the power of the 55 motor to move the gears 26 and 2| into mesh with each other as will be described in detail presently.

The curved rack bar 2| is carried in a channeled guideway 38 itself mounted for rectilinear movement in a channeled guideway 46. The rack bar guideway 38 is traversed at one end by an elliptical opening 4| having gear teeth 42 formed on one side thereof for intermeshing engagement with the teeth of a mutilated pinion 43 which is rotatably carried in the gear case, so that when the pinion 43 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewedfrom the top of the machine, the gear 2| is moved into engagement with the pinion 20 as shown in Figure 6, and when the mutilated pinion 43 is moved in a clockwise direction, the gears 28 and 2| are disengaged and moved to the position shown in Figure 7.

Apparatus for effecting the aforesaid operations includes a second mutilated gear 44 fixed to one end of the mutilated pinion 43. The mutilated gear 44 is in mesh with the teeth at one end of a gear segment 45, the other end of which is journaled for movement on and about the upper hearing I!) of the agitator shaft Intermediate the ends of the segmental gear 45 there is provided an aperture for reception of a pin 46 having a sleeved part 50 fixed thereto in the opening of which is received the reduced end section 4! of the eccentric rod 31 and the spring 48.

The spring 48 is provided to normally maintain the eccentric rod 31 in the position shown in Figure 2 with reference to the pin 46 and by reason of this arrangement, positive means are provided for moving the segmental gear 45 in one direction, and resilient means are provided for moving the same in a reverse direction, such directions corresponding respectively to the engaging and disengaging movement of the curved rack bar 2| with respect to the pinion 26.

When the eccentric 36 is rotated 180 from the position shown in Figure 2, the spring 48 will operate to provide a resilient means for shifting the rack bar 2| through the operation of the segmental gear 45, the mutilated gears 44 and 43 and the curved guideway 34 which carries the curved rack bar 2|, and in this manner the gear 2| is moved from the position shown in Figures 2 and 7 to the position shown in Figure 6. When the eccentric 36 completes the next half of its movement, the segmental gear 45 and the associated elements are positively moved so as to shift thegear 2| from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figures 2 and 7.

The operation of the eccentric 36 is affected and controlled in the following manner. At the bottom of the sleeve which carries the eccentric 36 there is provided a clutch dog 5| mounted for movement on the shoulder of a screw 52. The clutch dog 5| is provided with a radial extending part 53 which is arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with suitable notches 54 formed internally of the gear 33 and it is urged to its driving position by means of a spring 55. The clutch dog has a pair of pins 56 which project through apertures in a radially oflset cup 51 carried at'the bottom of the sleeve 35 for reception of the clutch dog and its associated spring and screw.

'The pins 56 are arranged for contact with a plunger 59 carried by one arm of a crank member 58. The plunger 59 is urged to its outermost position by means of a spring 66. The tension built up in the spring 68 when the manually controlled clutch is operated, is utilized to completely move the part 53- of the clutch dog out of contact with the gear 33 after its disengagement therefrom. The shaft 6| of the crank member 58 is journaled for movement in the cover 58 of the gear case so that one of its arms is inside the gear case and its other arm is outside the same.. The outer arm of 'the crank 53 is arranged to engage one end of a control rod 62, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a bell crank 63 pivotally supported by a bracket 64 carried by the base member of the machine. The other arm of the bell crank is engaged by a push rod 65 having a spring 66 at its lower end to normally maintain it in the position shown in full lines in Figure 4.

At the upper end of the rod 65 there is provided a push button 66 by means of which the rod is manually moved. Additional means including a rod 61 having a foot pedal 68 at its lower end and a spring 18 to urge it upwardly, is provided for actuating the rod 65, the bell crank 63 and the parts associated therewith. The connection between the rod 61 and the rod 65 is by way of a looselyfltting collar 1| fixed to the rod 61, having a slot for reception of a pin 12 fixed with respect to the rod 65 so that when the push button 69 is depressed this operation will not affect the movement of the rod 61 and the associated foot treadle. The purpose of this arrangement is to have the push button operate with the lightest possible pressure.

When either the button 68 or the treadle 68 is depressed, the crank 58 is moved from the full to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, whereby the plunger 59 is moved away from one or the other of the pins 56, whereupon the clutch spring 55 serves to move the-part 53 of the clutch dog into engagement with one of the other of the notches 54 of the gear 33. After this takes place, the driven clutch parts and the sleeve 35 and the eccentric 36 are rotated 180 whereupon the other pin 56 moves into engagement with the plunger 58 to disengage the clutch. This action normally takes place as the operating members formed by the push button 66 or the foot pedal 68 are only momentarily depressed to eifect the control of the machine.

The aforesaid control greatly facilitates the operation of the washing machine both by reason of the ease of its operation and by reason of the convenient location of the push button and pedal forming the operating members of the control. The foot pedal is particularly useful in case the hands of the operator are otherwise en ged, as for example, in loading or removing clothes from the tub.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular forms of washing machine shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth are presented for purposes of'explanation and that various modifications'of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departure from this invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retaining gear case, a Totatable shaft traversing a wall of vsaid gear case, power means outside said gear case for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft having a part atleast inside said gear case, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said secand shaft, 9. third shaft also having a part at amazes connecting said speed reducing gearing to said.

third shaft for oscillating the same, and power operated control means including a manually operable clutch for connecting and disconnecting said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft. V 4

2. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retaining gear case, a rotatable shaft traversing a wallet said gear case,

power means outside said gear case for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft having'a part at least inside said gear case, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a third shaft also'having a part at least inside said gear case and mounted for movement aboutan axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means for connect-' ing said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same, power operated means for connecting and disconnecting said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft, and a manually operable clutch associated with said first shaft for controlling the operation of said power operated means.

3. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retaining gear case, a rotatable shaft traversing thewall of said gear case, power means outside said gear case for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft having a part at least inside said gear case, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a third shaft also having a part at least inside said gear case and mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means including a pitman and a pair of gears adapted to be oscillated by said pitman for connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same. and power operated control means including a manually operable clutch for effecting the connection and disconnection of said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft.

4, In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retaining gear case, a rotatable shaft traversing the wall of said gear case, power means outside said gear case for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft hav ing a part at least inside saidgear case, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a'third shaft also in part at least inside said gear case and mounted for move-- ment about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means including a pitman and a pair of gears adapted to be oscillated by said pitman for connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft'for oscillating the same, .power operated means for effecting relative movement of said oscillatable gears into and out of mesh with each other, and a manually operable clutch for controlling the shifting of said'oscillatable gears bysaid power operated means..-

5. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retainingv gear case, a rotatable shaft traversing the wall of said gear case, power means outside said gear case for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft having a part at least inside said gear case, speed .re'ducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said second about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means iorv connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same, and power operated control means including a manually operable clutch, an eccentric and a member driven by said eccentric-for effecting the connection and disconnection of said disconnectible driving means with respect. to' said third shaft.

6.'In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retaining gear case, a retatable shaft traversing the wall of said gear case, power means outside said gear case for drivingsaid shaft, a second rotatable shaft having a part at least inside said gear case, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, a third shaft also having a part at least inside said gear case and mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means for connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same, an eccentric adapted to be driven by said speed reducing gearing, a clutch for controlling the movement of said eccentric, and means driven by said eccentric for effecting the connection and disconnection of said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft.

7. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a lubricant retaining gear case, a rotatable shaft traversing the wall of said gear case, power means outside said gear case for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft having a part at least inside said gear case, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft to said second shaft, 9. third shaft also having a part at least inside said gear case and mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means for connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same, an eccentric adapted to be driven by said speed reducing gearing, a clutch for controlling the movement of said eccentric, a connecting rod operated by said eccentric, and means connected to the end of said rod and remote from said eccentric for effecting the connection and disconnection of said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft.

8. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a rotatable shaft, power means for driving said shaft, a second rotatable shaft, speed reducing gearing connecting said first shaft-to said second shaft, a third shaft mounted. for movement about anaxis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means for connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same, an eccentric adapted to be driven by said speed reducing gearing, a clutch for controlling the movement, of said eccentric, a connecting rod operated by said eccentric, and means including a segmental gear connected to the end of the rod remote from said eccentric for effecting the connection and disconnection of said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft.

9. In a power operated, manually controlled gearing; a rotatable shaft, power means for driving saidshaft, a second rotatable shaft, speed reducing gearing connecting saidv first shaft to said second shaft, a third shaft mounted for movement about an axis parallel to the axis of said second shaft, disconnectible driving means for connecting said speed reducing gearing to said third shaft for oscillating the same, an eccentric adapted to be driven by said speed reducing gearing, a clutch associated with said first named shaft for controlling the movement of said eccentric, and means driven by said eccentric for effecting the connection and disconnection of said disconnectible driving means with respect to said third shaft.

10. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, a disconnectible motionconverting driving connection between said shafts, and operator-operated means for utilizing said power means'in effecting the operation of said disconnectible driving connection.

11.- The combination with'a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscilatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, motion-converting means including gears for connecting said shafts to each other, certain of said gears being relatively movable into and out of meshing engagement with each other, and operator-operated means for utilizing said power means for effecting the engagement and disengagement of said gears.

12. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, motion-converting means including gears for connecting said shafts to each other, certain of said gears being relatively shiftable into and out of meshing engagement with each other, and means including a clutch having a manually operated control member for utilizing said power means for effecting the relative shifting of said gears.

13. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, motion-converting mechanism including a disconnectible driving connection for connecting said shafts to each other, and operator-operated means for utilizing said power means for controlling the operation of said driven shaft.

14. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, motion-converting means providing a disconnectible driving connection between said shafts, and operator-operated means for utilizing said power means in effecting the operation of said disconnectible driving connec tion; said last named means including a control member responsive to very slight pressure by the operator for effecting the stated operations.

15. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, a. pinion on said driven shaft, a toothed member adapted for meshing engagement therewith, a pitman operatively connected to said driving shaft for driving said toothed member, power operated means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, and manually operable means for controlling the operation of said power operated control means.

16. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, a pinion on said driven shaft, a toothed member adapted for meshing engagement therewith, a pitman operatlvely connected to said driving shaft for driving said toothed member, power operated means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, and. a manually operable clutch driven by said power means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion.

17. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, a pinion on said driven shaft, a toothed member adapted for meshing engagement therewith, a pitman operatively connected to said driving shaft for driving said toothed member, power operated means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, and a manually cperable clutch driven by said power means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, said clutch including resilient connecting means for positively shifting the toothed member in one direction and for resiliently moving it in an opposite direction.

18. The combination with a gear mechanism having a rotatable driving shaft and an oscillatable driven shaft, of power means for driving said rotatable driving shaft, a pinion on said driven shaft, a toothed member adapted for meshing engagement therewith, a pitman operatively connected to said driving shaft for driving said toothed member, power operated means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, and a manually operable clutch driven by said power means for moving said toothed member into and out of meshing engagement with said pinion, said clutch including resilient connecting means for positively moving said toothed member out of engagement with said pinion and for resiliently moving said toothed member into engagement with said pinion.

JOHN J. McCABE. 

